Gingerbread Cheesecake - Winter Wonderland Theme

Gingerbread Cheesecake: Made with delicious gingersnaps crust, creamy, decadent filling with amazing gingerbread flavors, and adorned with a mini gingerbread house, and cute little holiday candies. It's a fun, festive dessert recipe perfect for the holidays!!

Looking for more festive, easy recipes for the holidays? Check out my Pumpkin cheesecake, Chocolate fudge, Chocolate Peppermint Bark, Instant Pot Banana Bread, and Homemade Apple Cake. They are surely going to be a winner!!

We had our first snow of the season, my kids had a blast playing in the snow, making a snowman, and enjoyed Hot Chocolate On Sticks, which I just made a few days back. We are all so in the holiday mood, it's such a fun time of the year.

Winter break starts officially today. Kids are out of school and it's the perfect time to make our gingerbread house. My princess loves to make a gingerbread house for the holidays.

This year, I thought of using her creations to decorate our gingerbread cheesecake. Hence we came up with this winter wonderland theme.

Jump to:

• About Gingerbread Cheesecake
• Ingredients For Gingerbread Cheesecake
• How To Make Gingerbread Cheesecake
• Tips For Delicious Cheesecake
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How To Store The Cheesecake
• Beautiful Bakes For Holidays
• Gingerbread Cheesecake - Recipe

About Gingerbread Cheesecake

Gingerbread is one of my favorite flavors and is so perfect for this time of the year! Love the warmth and flavor of the spices and the depth it adds to a simple cheesecake recipe.

This gingerbread cheesecake is so easy to make and such a fun, and creative way to enjoy holidays with your loved ones. While I made this no-fuss, easy gingerbread cheesecake recipe, my daughter worked on her gingerbread house.

Once the cheesecake was completely cool, I let her decorate the cheesecake to her liking. She used all her favorites to decorate the cheesecake. Topped with whipped cream for snow, a gingerbread house, candy canes, and sparkling sugar. For trees, she decorated ice cream cones with green icing. We can't wait to dig into this winter wonderland 🙂 How adorable?

We had so much fun, making this festive and delicious cheesecake. It was a huge hit with friends and family! It is a perfect treat for the holidays. Now this Gingerbread cheesecake is my family's new holiday favorite, so inviting and decadent!!

Ingredients For Gingerbread Cheesecake

For The Crust

20 Ginger Snaps cookies

2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

⅛ teaspoon ground ginger

⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

pinch of salt

⅛ teaspoon ground cloves

For The Cheesecake Filling

1 pound cream cheese, room temperature

¼ cup sour cream, room temperature

⅔ cup brown sugar, packed

2 tablespoon molasses

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk, room temperature

½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground ginger

¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

 ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

pinch of salt

For The Topping

1 cup heavy cream, chilled

1 tablespoon sugar, adjust to taste

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For The Decorations

1 Mini Gingerbread House Kit

Food coloring

Choice of décor (I used candy cane, ice-cream cones, sparkling sugar, gingerbread cookies)

How To Make Gingerbread Cheesecake

Make this flawless, heavenly gingerbread cheesecake in just 4 easy steps. Enjoy this decadent gingerbread cheesecake this holiday with your loved ones.

I used an Instant Pot for cooking the cheesecake. However, the recipe also includes instructions for oven baking.

I used a 7-inch stainless steel push pan to prepare this cheesecake. Here's an Amazon link to the cake pan.

Step 1: Prepare The Crust

In a food processor, add gingersnaps, and pulse until it forms into a coarse crumbs texture.

Add sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt, pulse a few times, until just incorporated.

Pour in melted butter and pulse until just combined.

Transfer the mixture to the cake pan, using a flat surface (back of a spatula or a glass), and evenly press the mixture into the bottom of the pan.

Place the pan in the freezer while you prepare the filling.

Step 2: Prepare The Cheesecake Filling

In a small bowl combine dry ingredients – flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.

Wipe the bowl and the blade of the food processor, to remove any crumbs.

Add cream cheese, and sour cream and blend on medium speed, until light and fluffy.

Add sugar and blend until smooth. Scrap the bowl down occasionally.

Beat in eggs and yolk, one at a time, until just incorporated.

Sprinkle flour and spices mixture in thirds, pulse after each sprinkle. Add molasses, and vanilla bean paste and blend until the mixture is a smooth consistency.

Pour the filling into the prepared pan. Spread the filling evenly, using a spatula or a spoon.

Tap the pan a few times, to remove any air bubbles. If you see any air bubbles on the surface of the filling, just burst them with a toothpick or a fork. This helps achieve a smooth surface cheesecake.

Step 3: Make Cheesecake In Instant Pot

Line the prepared cake pan with a paper towel, and then cover it with a foil. Wrap the entire pan tightly with the foil. This helps prevent any access moisture in the cheesecake.

Pour 1 ½ cups of water into the inner pot. Place the cake pan on the trivet, and carefully lower it into the inner pot.

Close the lid, vent sealed. Turn ON PRESSURE COOK (high), for 40 minutes. Let pressure release naturally, around 20 minutes.

Carefully, lift the cake pan. Remove the foil and paper towel. If required, using a paper towel, dab the access moisture on top of the cheesecake. At this point, the center (around 1 inch) of the cheesecake will slightly be jiggly. It will continue to cook, as it cools.

Let the cheesecake come to room temperature, for about an hour. Cover with a clean paper towel and foil, and refrigerate overnight.

Run a knife around the edge of the cake. This helps release the cake easily from the cake pan. Decorate the cake to your liking.

Step 4: Prepare The Whip Cream Topping 

In a bowl, pour heavy whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla extract. Using a hand mixer, whisk the mixture on a medium speed for 2-3 minutes, or until it starts to turn frothy.

After 2-3 minutes the mixture will start to thicken. Increase the speed to medium-high, and whisk for additional 30 seconds to 1 minute to form stiff peaks.

Check the consistency of the whipped cream, and hold the mixer upside down. The cream will stick to the whisk, if it falls back, it needs some more whisking. Whisk the cream for additional 15-30 seconds or until stiff peaks form.

Step 5: Decorate The Cheesecake

To make a gingerbread house, simply follow the instructions on the package. Decorate the cheesecake as per your liking. 

To give a snow effect, I used whipped cream topping on the cheesecake. Decorated it with a gingerbread house, and some candy canes.

For trees, I used ice cream cones piped with some green icing and sprinkled some blue sparkling sugar to add some touch to the snow.

Alternate Step 3: Make Gingerbread Cheesecake In Oven

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Wrap the prepared cake pan (bottom) tightly with the foil. This helps prevent any access moisture into the cheesecake. Place the cake pan into a large roasting pan or a baking dish.

Transfer the roasting pan into a preheated oven. Carefully, pour hot water into the roasting pan, about an inch deep. Bake for about 45-60 minutes or until the cake is almost set. Turn OFF the oven. Let the cake sit in the oven for about 45 minutes to an hour.

Carefully, remove the cake pan and the foil. If required, using a paper towel, dab the access moisture on top of the cheesecake. At this point, the center (around 1 inch) of the cheesecake will slightly be jiggly. It will continue to cook, as it cools.

Let the cheesecake come to room temperature, for about an hour. Cover with a clean paper towel and foil, and refrigerate overnight.

Run a knife around the edge of the cake. This helps release the cake easily from the cake pan. Slice the cheesecake and serve it. Enjoy pumpkin cheesecake plain or with a dollop of whipped cream.

Tips For Delicious Cheesecake

Room Temperature Ingredients

It is important to start with room temperature cream cheese, eggs, and sour cream. Leave it out for a couple of hours or until the cheese is soft. This helps achieve a smooth consistent batter.

Tips For The Cheesecake Batter

• Beat, cheese and sugar, until smooth.
• Beat in eggs and yolk, one at a time. Make sure the eggs are well incorporated, before adding the next ingredients.
• Do not overbeat the mixture. Mix the batter until all the ingredients are incorporated well and the batter is smooth, without any lumps. Scrap the bowl down occasionally.
• The batter can be made using a hand mixer or food processor, both work fine.
• Spread the crust mixture evenly, and with the help of a spatula or a cup, firmly press it down into the cake pan.
• Pour the filling into the cake pan, and tap the pan a few times, to remove any air bubbles. If you see any air bubbles on the surface of the filling, just burst them with a toothpick or a fork. This helps achieve a smooth surface cheesecake.

For Instant Pot Cooking

• Line the prepared cake pan with a paper towel, and then cover it with aluminum foil. Wrap the entire pan tightly with the foil. This helps prevent any access moisture in the cheesecake.
• Allow natural pressure release when removing the cheesecake from the Instant Pot. This will allow the cheesecake to set, and also prevent any cracks in the cheesecake.

Tips For The Oven Cheesecake

• Wrap the prepared cake pan (bottom) tightly with the foil. This helps prevent any access moisture into the cheesecake.
• Use the water bath technique to bake the cake. Place the cake pan into a large roasting pan or a baking dish. Pour hot water into the roasting pan, about an inch deep.
• Once done baking, turn off the oven. Let the cheesecake sit in the oven for about 30 minutes. This allows the cheesecake to set, and prevent any cracks in the cheesecake.

Be Patient 🙂

• Don’t worry if the center (around 1 inch) of the cheesecake is slightly jiggly even after cooking. It will continue to cook as it cools down.
• Let the cheesecake come to room temperature, for about an hour. Cover with a clean paper towel and foil, and refrigerate overnight to set.
• Run a clean knife around the edge of the cake. This helps release the cake easily from the cake pan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Substitute For Gingersnaps

I have used gingersnaps to make the crust. However, the crust can be made with a combination of crackers or biscuits, such as digestive biscuits, biscoff cookies, buttery cookies, and graham crackers.

You can also mix in some nuts such as walnuts, or pecans in the mixture to give a nice crunch.

What other spices can be used?

All-spice, green cardamom powder, all add a nice flavor to the cheesecake. You can use these spices in one or more combinations.

Why is cheesecake not smooth?

It is important to mix the cheesecake batter to a smooth consistency. Any large chunks of cream cheese will cause uneven cheesecake.

Make sure to beat the mixture until it is smooth, and lump-free for a nice smooth texture cheesecake. Beat the mixture on medium speed to avoid curdling of the cheese.

Why does cheesecake have cracks?

• Do not try to remove the cheesecake as soon as the cooking is done, Instant Pot or oven. Let it cool for some time and than remove it and allow it to cool at room temperature.
• For Instant Pot cooking, allow natural pressure release to prevent the cheesecake from cracking.
• For oven baking, allow 45 minutes to an hour, before removing the cheesecake from the oven. 

How To Store The Cheesecake

Cheesecake stays good for up to five days in the refrigerator. Store it in an airtight container to prevent any moisture build-up.

Gingerbread cheesecake freezes beautifully. You can freeze it for up to three months. Store it in a freezer-safe container, thaw overnight, and enjoy.

Beautiful Bakes For Holidays